FUNK, I was either unaware or have simply forgotten that Joe and Dan were associated in any capacity way back then.
In fact they were at great odds towards each other during the meeting that we held to decide if the NPC would elect to become associated with the IFBB
I forget the year but it was most likely the morning after Gary Leonard won the national title (Mr America?) that was promoted by Ken Sprague at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
I don't know if there is anyone still alive except myself who attended that meeting but, looking back, it was an historical event at which the likes of the Hoffman group, Dan Laurie, and various Bodybuilding chairmen and officials from throughout the states gathered together to listen to a proposal that BEN Weider was going to deliver to all concerned.
Ben and Joe were the only individuals who showed up dressed in tailor made suits (blue blazer jackets?) while the majority of the rest of us showed up in sweatpants and t-shirts.
If I recall correctly most of those in attendance had no idea of what was going on but it was an official meeting and eventually Ben Weider took the stand and made a proposal something similar to the following.
"If the NPC would recognize the IFBB as the sole world governing body for competitive bodybuilding, the IFBB would recognize the NPC as the sole sanctioning body for amateur athletes within the US.
And the IFBB would cease the sanctioning of amateur bodybuilding events in the US but continue to sanction and promote professional bodybuilding events within the US as well as worldwide."
No other 'participant' came prepared to offer a counter proposal .... but needless to say .... there were numerous objections and accusations from the floor before we were able to proceed with the voting process.
One former Weider employee took the floor and politely accused Ben and Joe of setting up a number of PO Boxes in foreign countries and claiming that those countries/PO Boxes were official and valid IFBB organizations, but the only 'organization' was a little kid who emptied the PO box once each week.
And of course the Hoffman contingent objected loudly and Dan Laurie also offered some anti-Weider remarks.
But no once came with something better to offer and the vote determined that the NPC would accept the IFBB offer.
So less than half of those in attendance left the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium pretty damn pissed off that Sunday morning.
If any GetBigger other than myself attended this historical meeting, I'd like to hear what you have to say about this meeting and correct me in the event I have made any mistake regarding it.
OPPPS! Sorry SLICK and BOB bur Funk pushed my emory button and I got carried away with this response.
Sometimes that happens.
